Job Description

Main purpose of the job:

• To design and implement research projects on climate change and health, analyze study findings, and publish scientific articles
• Work with multi-disciplinary research groups across Africa, in the EU, UK, and USA
• Contribute to projects funded by the Wellcome Trust, NIH, and other donors within the Climate and Health Directorate
• These projects will generate evidence to mount a response to climate change in Africa
• The Company documents the health impacts of heat waves and extreme heat on vulnerable populations in Africa, including pregnant women, infants, HIV-infected adults, and healthcare workers, and we assess the effectiveness of interventions to reduce these impacts

Location:

• Hillbrow, Johannesburg

Key performance areas:

• Participate in discussions regarding the future direction of research strategies and plans for the Company
• Obtain ethical approval from relevant regulatory bodies
• Write research protocols and SOPs for studies
• Develop and design research tools
• Conduct fieldwork/data collection (interviews, focus group discussions, etc.)
• Monitor the progress of research projects
• Write progress reports to stakeholders including networks and funders
• Stay abreast with relevant research findings and collaborate closely with other investigators on related studies.
• Identify potential topics for publications that add to the body of knowledge on climate change and health using existing data
• Initiate and conduct a literature review to support the write-up of research findings
• Identify target journals that have a high impact factor.
• Lead the development of a manuscript
• Coordinate inputs from contributors to the manuscript
• Conduct data analysis (with input from the statistical team) and write up the results
• Complete manuscript within agreed-upon timelines, submit for publication and respond timeously to peer reviews
• Compile conference presentations as requested
• Disseminate research findings internally and to universities and other stakeholders such as communities, CABs, and media
• Identify research funding opportunities to expand and sustain the Climate and Health Directorate
• Lead or significantly contribute to grant proposals from initiation to conclusion
• Ensure the quality of the written proposal
• Coordinate inputs from other contributors
• Ensure grant proposals are compliant with submission requirements
• Support the development of budgets for the proposed grants
• Support the submission of grants on relevant grant portals within submission timelines
• Attend to all staffing requirements and administration
• Supervise and manage the duties of subordinates to ensure optimal staff utilization and maintenance of sound labor relations
• Perform and facilitate performance development and assessments
• Identify substandard performance by team members and take necessary corrective action
• Coach and train subordinates and team members to ensure the acquisition of knowledge and skills required by the organization
• Promote harmony, teamwork, and sharing of information
• Take ownership and accountability for tasks and demonstrate effective self-management
• Follow through to ensure that quality and productivity standards of own work are consistently and accurately maintained
• Maintain a positive attitude and respond openly to feedback
• Take ownership of driving your own career development by attending training and development sessions and relevant forums/meetings
• Maintain and update expertise and knowledge of developments in the field

Required minimum education and training:

• PhD in an appropriate discipline OR a Higher Degree in Public Health, Epidemiology, Sociology, or Anthropology

Required minimum work experience:

• Minimum 5-8 years research experience
• Management of research programs with a record of research outputs evidenced by at least ten (10) published articles in refereed journals
• Qualitative researchers, public health practitioners, or epidemiologists
• Membership of Professional/School/Faculty/Department Committees and/or taking leadership roles in the Public Health domain within the academic, public or NGO sectors

Professional body registration:

• Relevant registration body

Desirable additional education, work experience, and personal abilities:

• Experience in public health will be an advantage
• Some basic knowledge of the impact of climate change on health is desirable
• Certification in Good Clinical Practice.
• Experience working in a low- or middle-income country
• Experience in writing research protocols, designing tools, and investigator-driven studies
• Ordered, systematic, and analytical in approach to research, with experience in managing and analyzing qualitative datasets
• Familiarity with data analysis software (qualitative)
• Good administrative skills, with working knowledge of Microsoft Office
• Tactful, respectful and non-judgmental
• Able to work under pressure and adhere to deadlines
• Self-motivated, able to work independently and work as part of a multidisciplinary team
• Assertive, confident, and adaptable
• Able to show proof of publication records and conference presentations
• Familiarity with local SA ethics or regulatory guidelines, and experience with the ethics review process

Demands of the job:

• National and international travel and overtime/weekends may be required from time to time
• Working in rural areas or under-resourced and/or unpleasant circumstances may be experienced from time to time
• Working in a pressurized environment

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